(Nick Didlick/Getty Images)
Rumors started circulating last night that the Philadelphia Flyers were interested in two-time NHL All-Star goaltender Roberto Luongo. TVA Sports contributor Enrico Ciccone first tweeted about this rumor.
Philadelphie égalment intéressé a Roberto selon une source chez les Flyers! Source in Phily say Flyers interested in Roberto!
— Enrico Ciccone (@EnricoCiccone) January 9, 2013
Later reports both confirmed and denied this report. Philly.com's Frank Seravalli spoke to GM Paul Holmgren about the interest in Luongo and Holmgren supposedly laughed at the rumor.
Adrian Dater of the Denver Post later said the opposite that the Flyers are still interested and that the Vancouver Canucks would be asking for either defenseman Niklas Grossmann or one of the Schenn brothers.
Don't believe Flyers public denials on being interested in Luongo. They're VERY interested
— adater (@adater) January 10, 2013
This trade would not benefit the Flyers. The team needs another solid defenseman or a goaltender that is not shaky in goal. Trading away Grossmann or Luke Schenn would be a mistake. Luongo and Bryzgalov's play has been very similar over the past few seasons. Both goalies have been part of a carousel in net with Luongo sharing duties with Cory Schneider and Bryzgalov with Bobrovsky last season.
This rumor could not have come at a worse time. It definitely has to hurt the confidence of Ilya Bryzgalov. He has addressed the media with confidence saying that he now knows to handle playing the position of goaltender in Philadelphia.
This year will be make it or break it for Bryzgalov, who hopes to start the majority of the games this season. He must have a solid year in net and help lead the Flyers deep into the playoffs or he could be bought out at the end of the season.
We will find out soon if this rumor has any truth to it, but knowing GM Paul Holmgren anything is a possibility. His denials are not always true, so we might be in for a surprise before the season starts.
Follow Bill on Twitter @Bassist718
